Perforated tear sheet for cigarette and the like packages



April 23, 1957 T, w 2,789,752

PERFORMED TEAR SHEET FOR CIGARETTE AND THE LIKE PACKAGES Filed Sept. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F Z j INVENTOR.

THEODORE WILL Arm/m5) April 23, 1957 T. WILL 2,789,752

PERFORATED TEAR SHEET FOR CIGARETTE AND THE LIKE PACKAGES Filed Sept. 27, 1954 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

THEODORE WILL BY I PERFORATED TEAR SHEET FOR CKGARETTE AND THE LIKE PACKAGES Application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,324

.1 Claim. (Cl. 229-51) This new invention relates to new and useful improvements in cigarette packs and similar packages.

Morerparticularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved perforated tear sheet for cigarette packs and the like which can be used quickly and conveniently to open a pack for access to its contents.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the tear sheet with a pair of spaced lines of round perforations with a tear strip secured between the lines to the inner side of the tear sheet and having one free end extending from the tear sheet for ripping the perforated lines.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing the tear sheet of the inner wrapper of a cigarette pack and covering the tear strip with a cover strip of cellulose tape or the like.

Still further, the present invention proposes arranging the lines of perforations so they go only partly around a pack and providing an end perforation so that the tear strip can be torn completely from the pack. a

A further object of the present invention proposes providing a pair of like lines of perforations in the'metallic sheet usually secured to the inner wrapper and in; the outer jacket sheet of a cigarette pack but not in the cellophane cover of the pack so that a portion of these sheets as well as one upper corner of the inner wrapper may be torn from the pack by pulling the free end of the tear strip.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette pack with the cellophane cover partly broken away at the top of the pack and with a tear sheet constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the pack opened.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inner side of the inner wrapper or tear sheet.

Fig. 4 is a folded fragmentary view of the tear sheet alone.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of another tear sheet illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but illustrating a further modification.

form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,

,7 erably is of transparent cellophane tape.

is the inner wrapper sheet of a cigarette pack 16.

Inner wrapper sheet 15 is made of paper and has upper and lower, side edges 17 and 18, respectively, end edge portions 19 and 20, respectively, and inner and outer sides 21, and 22, respectively. The end edge portions 19 and 20 are adapted to be secured together.

Metallic sheet 23 is secured to the outer side 22 of the inner wrapper sheet 15 in the usual manner and is of the same size. as the inner wrapper sheet.

Inner wrapper sheet 15 has a pairof spaced lines of round perforations 24 and which are adjacent to, spaced from, and parallel to the upper side edge 17. Metallic sheet 23 has like lines of round perforations 26 and 27 aligned with lines 24 and 25 in the inner wrapper sheet 15.. The lines of perforations 24 and 25 and 26 and 27extend only part way around the sheets 15 and 23. Perforations 24 and 25 extend from end edge portion 19'of inner wrapper sheet 15 toward and terminates short of the end edge portion 20, the termination point 28 (see Fig. 3) being intermediate the end edge portions 19 and 20,

A tear strip 29 is secured to a flexible cover strip- 31 which in turn is secured to the inner side 21 of inner wrapper sheet 15. The tear strip 29 is disposed on the cover strip to lie between the lines of perforations 24 and 25. Tear strip 29 has a free end which extends from the inner wrapper sheet 15. The tear strip is thicker than. the flexible cover strip 31, which cover strip pref- The cover strip is secured by adhesive or other means to the inner side 21 of the inner wrapper sheet 15 .and the tear strip 29 issimilarly secured to the cover strip. The cover strip 3' 1Jc'overs the perforations 24 and 25.

An outer jacket 32 and a transparent cellophane cover 33 complete the cigarette pack 16. The cellophane cover has its side edges 33' and 33 disposed at the side of the pack where the free end 30 of tear strip 29 emerges from the inner wrapper sheet 15 and the outer jacket 32, and the free end 30 extends through the overlap of these side edge portions 33 and 33 of the cellophane cover 33 obviating the need for the usual red band pull tab customarily provided to open the cellophane cover.

To open the pack 16, the free end 30 of tear strip 29 extending through the seam of the cellophane cover 33 is pulled. Pulling the tear strip 29 not only will rip open the cellophane cover 33 but will rip the spaced lines of perforations 24 and 25 and 26 and 27 as well, opening one upper corner of the pack, as shown in Fig. 2.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 is characterized by the provision of a tear sheet or inner wrapper sheet 35 having a pair of spaced lines of round perforations 36 and 37 with a cross perforation 38 at the termination point 39 of the lines 36 and 37 making a cross line of perforations. A tear strip 40 is secured to a cover sheet 42 and the cover sheet is secured to the inner side 41 of sheet 35. The tear strip 40 is disposed on the cover sheet 42 to lie between the spaced lines of perforations 36 and 37 and the cover sheet 42 covers these perforations; The cover sheet 42 is secured by adhesive or other means to the inner side 41 of sheet 35 and the tear strip 40 is similarly secured to the cover sheet. a

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is characterized by the provision of a pair of lines of perforations 45 and 46 in the outer jacket sheet 7 of the cigarette pack 48 and like aligned rows 49 and 50 and 51 and 52 in the metallic sheet 53 and inner Wrapper sheet 54 of the pack. A tear strip 55 is secured to a cover strip 58 which in turn is secured to the inner side 56 of inner wrapper sheet 54 and one free end 57 of the tear strip 55 extends from the inner wrapper sheet- 54 to the outside of the outer jacket sheet 47. Cover strip 58 is secured by adhesive or other means to the inner side 56 of inner wrapper sheet 54 under the tear strip 55 and over the perforations 51 and 52. Pulling the tear strip 55 tears off one upper corner of the pack including part of the outer jacket sheet as well as the metallic sheet 53 and inner wrapper sheet 54. The cellophane cover 59 has its side edges 60 and 61 disposed adjacent the free end 57 of the tear strip 55 and the free end 57 of the tear strip extends through this scam in the cellophane cover between the overlapped edges 60 and 61 so that the cellophane is torn open at the same time as the rest of the pack. The cellophane cover 59 keeps the cigarettes fresh despite the perforations and no perforations are made in the cover sheet 59. The cover strip 58 also covering the perforations also prevents loss of aroma and freshness.

The modification of the present invention illustrated.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs 10 is characterized by a like construction but arranged so that the entire top 64 of a pack 65 can be opened by pulling the tear strip 66 in the manner indicated by the direction arrows.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 11 is characterized by a construction like that shown in Figs. 1-5, Fig. 6 or Figs. 7 and 8 but arranged so that a full corner of a pack 67 can be opened by pulling the tear strip 68 down and around as indicated by the direction arrows.

The modification shown in Fig. 12 is characterized by the provision of a like construction to one of those set forth above but arranged so that a pack 69 can be split in half by pulling the tear strip 70 as indicated by the direction arrows.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A perforated tear sheet for cigarette packs and the .like comprising an inner wrapper sheet having upper and lower side edges and inner and outer sides and end edge portions adapted to be secured together, said inner wrapper sheet also having a pair of spaced lines of perforations adjacent to and spaced from said upper side edge and parallel thereto and extending from one end edge portion toward and terminating short of said other end edge portion, a tear strip connected with the inner side of the inner wrapper sheet between said lines of perforations, said tear strip having one free end extending from the inner wrapper sheet, said inner wrapper sheet having the spaced lines of perforations therein terminating intermediate said end edge portions and having a cross line of at said termination thereof, and a flexible cover strip thinner than the tear strip secured to the inner side of the inner wrapper sheet beneath the tear strip and over the spaced lines of perforations in the inner wrapper sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,578 Bard Dec. 9, 1919 1,516,455 Panza Nov. 18, 1924 1,797,380 Thompson Mar. 24, 1931 1,836,228 Dryer Dec. 15, 1932 2,023,542 Peck Dec. 10, 1935 2,053,726 Marshall Sept. 8, 1936 2,272,407 Heckman Feb. 10, 1942 2,383,728 Little Aug. 28, 1945 2,533,255 Will Dec. 12, 1950 2,554,137 Burton May 22, 1951 2,699,286 Geffroy Jan. 11, 1955 

